Official Statistics as a Tourism Research Tool in Cross-border Areas of Poland

Abstract

Purpose. To analyze using the system of official statistics in studying tourism in cross-border areas in Poland. The additional purpose is analysis of the evolution of the system in terms of changes in environment and needs. Method. Method of description, critical and comparative analyses. The system of official statistics was described from a subjective, objective and territorial perspective. Documents, legal acts, publications and statistical research results were catalogued, analysed and compared in terms of their use in studies on cross-border tourism, particularly taking into account the time after Poland joined the Schengen area. Findings. A synergy of two objective subsystems of the official statistics system becomes essential, i.e. tourism statistics and cross-border statistics. When Poland joined the Schengen area, the role of cross-border statistics increased. New studies and publications appeared. Five out of sixteen Euroregions were studied and all borderlands, except for the Polish-Lithuanian borderland. The achievements of official statistics in cross-border tourism are difficult to use because of the inconsistent delimitation of cross-border areas and the incompatibility of studies regarding the territorial, time and objective aspects. Research and conclusion limitations. In the work, only the system of official statistics in Poland was studied, particularly taking into account the time after Poland joined the Schengen area. In the context of cross-border tourism, it would be valuable to complete the studies with the statistical systems of neighbouring countries. Practical implications. The study results will be useful in all analyses on the development of cooperation and cross-border tourism in Poland. They will help to indicate the directions of further development and a possible modification of cross-border statistics and tourism statistics. Originality. For the first time, an attempt has been made to reach all possible information of the system of official statistics available and present the information in a systemic, chronological and comprehensive way. Type of paper. Review-empirical work.